Military Pharmacist Experience in Emergency Relief Mission – The Haiyan Super Typhoon in Tacloban, Philippines

Abstract

BACKGROUND The strongest typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) hit the Philippines and claimed more than 6,300 lives in 2013. Malaysian National Security Council had estab- lished and deployed an emergency relief team to provide medical aid to the survivors in Tacloban district. This paper is to document common diseases after a typhoon, to list essential medications and to share experience during the mission. Top 2 clinical diseases recorded were upper and lower respiratory infections (54.0%) and infected wounds and lacerations (14.0%). Top 2 age groups treated were 13-65 year old (66.0%) and 1-12-year-old (34.0%). The 3 fast moving medicines were Diphenhydramine expec- torant, Chlorpheniramine Maleate Syrup and Cloxacillin Sodium Capsule. Extreme tropical weather contributed to not only high respiratory illnesses but created logistics issues, especially during outreach programs. Communi- cable diseases such as leptospirosis and dengue ampli- fied 2 weeks after a disaster. Survivors had to live in an area without clean water supply and poor sanitation. Mili- tary Pharmacist was involved in supplying clean and safe drinking water by using Malaysian invention of Field Water Purification System known as JERNIH. In a water-based disaster, a high number of patients presenting with an acute respiratory disease as well as infected wounds and lacerations should be expected. Data collected can be used to further improve disaster response procedures in the future.